How the hell does anyone get addicted to Oxycodone?

[haele]

I just had full knee replacement surgery on Thursday, and even at "low dose pain" level, all it does is make me constipated, nauseous and dizzy. My main issue is stiffness and muscle numbness.
Hell with it, I'm going back to Tylenol and stretches.

It may be hurt, but damn, the nausea and dizziness is worse.

Haele

[SheltieLover]

1. Opioid addicts actually get energized by taking them.

I worked at a methadone clinic for a few years.

Many of my clients told me this.

Blew my mind, tbh, 'cuz they put me to sleep. Took 1 dose after surgery & hated the feeling.

[TheRealNorth]

13. I received Vicodin once for ACL repair...

And it wired me up too. Ended up not having a lot of pain after the first week, so I stopped taking it even though they gave me a full month's worth.

[SheltieLover]

50. Be very careful with them, as this is classic reaction by those who are opioid dependent!

[TheRealNorth]

58. I hear ya

That was back around 1997, even before Brett Favre had his addiction to Vicodin become public.

[SheltieLover]

59. Glad you are being careful.

[LeftInTX]

48. They give me energy!

I had an "all natural childbirth" in 1990. Baby was born around 7 pm. So, shortly after, I figured it was a good time to finally get some pain meds and call it a night. Boy, I was wrong! It was really hard to get any sleeping meds too!

[SheltieLover]

49. Be very careful with them then!

This is a classic reacfion by many who are opioid dependent!

[LeftInTX]

52. This was in 1990. And yes, I take about 1/2 pill of Tyl #3 every day.

I have chronic pain and it takes off the "edge". Doesn't do much for the severe pain but it kinda helps me to "ignore" the milder stuff. I have fibromyalgia, so it's a mix of different kinds of pain. Only rest, PT, and epidurals work for severe pain.

[SheltieLover]

60. Sorry to hear you are suffering this way.

Have you tried acupuncture or cold laser for pain?

Glad you are careful with meds!

[LeftInTX]

61. I do my own acupuncture..LOL

I've got sharp needles and I go right into the trigger point. It helps. It's time consuming though

What is cold laser???

Physical therapy has been my life saver though!

[underpants]

2. I was given it after a foot surgery

I took one and sat there like a zombie for hours. I don’t get it but I feel for those hooked on anything.

[rubbersole]

3. You're fortunate.

Some people's brains love it and ye ole host can't say no. Sanctimonious Rushbo comes to mind.

[haele]

8. I do feel for those suffering from addiction.

There is just nothing pleasant at all with the drug, unless a heavy sleep is the desired outcome.

Haele

[TexasBushwhacker]

14. I was thinking the same thing

It affects dopamine and that's the pleasure/reward neurotransmitter. While it's anecdotal, I've been around a few opiate addicts and I think it just feels more pleasurable to them. Add poor impulse control to the mix and you have someone who gets a little buzz from one pill, so they take another. Then they build up a tolerance and have to take more to get high.

Matthew Perry said he was up to taking 55 Vicodin a day. He got so constipated he didn't have a BM for 10 days and his colon burst! He had a colostomy bag, the whole thing.

My father and his parents were alcoholics and I have one brother that was a heavy duty addict for over 20 years. But me, I just never enjoyed being drunk or high all that much. I didn't want to tempt fate, so it was easy for me to "just say no". It's not so easy for some folks.

[blm]

4. After my surgery I would only take a 1/4 chip

at a time right before therapy. A whole pill made me nauseous.

[mitch96]

5. Oxy was sold to doctors by salsemen as "non addictive" pain killer. The brainwashed doctors

who believe the "pharmaceutical industrial complex" salesmen dispensed it like water. So you get addicted to the drug and then the MD's cut you off so you go to the street. You buy a pill thinking it's Oxy but it's really a Chinese knock off containing fentanyl.. and then you die...
Neat circle jerk, eh? They get you hooked and then turn you out...
Isn't "non addictive opioid" and oxymoron?
m

[jimfields33]

19. Thankfully they control it much better.

Doctors definitely shouldn’t give 30 day supplies. Maybe 5 days worth and go from there. Doctors are more careful but still prescribe way too much.

[mitch96]

39. MD's today are taught basically three things to treat a patient...

Burn, cut or poison... Radiation therapy, surgery or drugs..
Physical therapy or Psychiatry are low on the list.. why?
MD's work on the widget principal.
The more widgets you can pump thru the door, the more money they can make. Why do you thing MD's don't spend much time with patients any more? Slows down the widgets.

I get it. Med School is expensive. I've seen many new doctors with grand ideas of helping man kind and "do right" by patients get turned by the all mighty dollar.
Question. How many would go into medicine if they were caped at...say...$150,000/yr.
Darn few I guess.
Don't get me wrong. If I'm in an accident get me to a trauma center right quick.
Other than that keeping a healthy body and a healthy mind is my medicine..
YMMV
m

[LeftInTX]

74. I'm actually surprised that everyone is going home with oxycodone.

Docs are beholdened to the DEA and the DEA watches them closely.

A few years ago, my rheumatologist had a talk with me because the DEA was suddenly watching everyone. I take tyl with codeine. He told me, "I need to make sure that you don't call in a script too early, but it's also going to raise red flags if you don't request refills in a timely manner". He said the DEA was watching the volumes closely. After a year or so, my doc relaxed, but he was pretty spooked for awhile. This was around 2010-2012ish, when the DEA started a crackdown.

[Aristus]

67. Yeah, but if we prescribe carefully and judiciously,

your patients scream “YOU JUST WANT ME TO BE IN PAIN!!!”

Until I became a licensed medical provider, I’d never been confronted with so many damned-if-you-do situations.

[Island Blue]

6. I took one after I broke my wrist

and threw up almost immediately. Obviously, I would make a horrible drug addict. I have horrible side effects to almost everything!

[Enter stage left]

7. Hang tough...my SO had hers done just barely over a month ago...

She only took 2 oxy pills within 3 days of the surgery and has been on Tylenol and Ibuprofen since then. Still has some muscle and nerve pain, but not as bad as when her knee was killing her.

It will probably get most of us sooner or later. I commiserate with your uncomfortable pain, and wish you the best.

Think how much better you will feel in a few months.

[haele]

11. Both knees needed to be replaced.

The next one is due for replacement in February. Surgeon said these were the worst he's seen, no space left in between and bone spurs; should have had them done five years ago.
So I should be frolicking by summer.

Haele

[spooky3]

27. Good luck to you. Please don't be discouraged if it takes much

Longer than you expect to feel good. Everyone’s different.

I also can’t tolerate OxyContin but had to take some other pain med for awhile.

I’m postponing getting my other one done.

[flyingfysh]

20. There is a useful device to help with recovery

It is easier that replacing ice bags frequently. Check out Cryo Cuff. You fill a small bucket with ice and some water. It automatically pumps ice water into a cuff around your knee, and replaces it with new cold water periodically.

I used the motorized version. This was suggested during a session at New England Baptist Hospital (an orthopedics-only hospital) to tell future patients what to expect.

[blueinredohio]

28. I had one of those when I had foot surgery

they are great. Would highly recommend it.

[TheRealNorth]

40. +1

I got one after my knee surgery and still have it. I used it last year when my surgically-repaired knee became inflamed for some unknown reason.

[blueinredohio]

41. I kept mine too.

Never know when you may need it again.

[OAITW r.2.0]

9. Kinda like coke and me in the 70's.

Snorted it, when offered, but never had the money (or interest) to financially self medicate. Some good Mexican red or Thai sticks, OTOH, I was all in.

[Phoenix61]

10. We are kindred spirits.😀

[OAITW r.2.0]

12. Backatcha.

Snorting coke numbed my nose and hardly got the physical buzz my peers raved about.

[Effete Snob]

15. Never touched it

I knew from all the descriptions that cocaine would be something that was right up my alley.

I figured it was easier to say "no, thanks" once in a while than to lose the bet I wouldn't want more immediately.

[OAITW r.2.0]

18. I tried everything.

Coke was "available" all over the place in the early 70's. Unless offered, was not interested in buying. Cash poor. But always found the money to smoke a little dope. Sometimes, do a trip...when I had a day to burn.

[ProfessorGAC]

43. We Were Surrounded By It

Significant club act in the 80s in a major market. People were doing lines on the tables. They didn't even try to hide it.
We did it, but an eigth ounce would last 3 weekends for us. Maybe longer. We were only dropping $200 on an eighth and I was making $300 a week performing. And, we weren't getting new every time we ran out. 8 or 10 times a year, probably.
Our drummer & bass player developed a problem. They were buying 3 eught-balls a week, or more.
The drummer lost everything and fled the US to get away from the people he owed.
The bass player got straight after he got the snot beaten out of him when he fell 2 grand in the hole. Scared him straight. He was heading for worse than a beating.

[LudwigPastorius]

56. During the 90s, I wasn't into coke to get high.

I just liked the way it smelled.

[flyingfysh]

16. I had the same surgery, but didn't have those problems

It was very helpful while I still needed it. I had none of the problems you had. I had about 3 weeks with lots of painkillers and lots of ice, but after that I didn't need it any more. It was safe for me to drive again after I was off the oxycodone. I never any desire to take more of it after that.

I am well past all that now, and the surgery (and physical therapy) worked out great for me. My surgeon and the hospital did a great job.

[MLAA]

17. I had foot surgery 6 weeks ago.

After 2-3 days I stopped taking it as well and went to Tylenol around the clock. Now down to just morning and night dose of Tylenol.

Good luck!

[Historic NY]

21. Tell me about it....I thought the entire Suez Canal was backed up inside.

I recently had surgery, the Dr gave me some, he said ok look your going to have to take some just when you need it is ok not to ever so many hours. I still have a huge bottle and then this that I will take for disposal soon .

[cilla4progress]

22. Weed does it for my husband -

pain control.

[chillfactor]

23. I had oxycodone after I fell

and broke my right femur in two places...had to have femur attached to right hip bone. i was in terrible pain. i never had side effects and pain reduced so i could learn to walk again. I can see how easily one could be addicted to oxycodone. It was really tough to give it up.

[nocoincidences]

24. I don't feel much of anything with opioids,

so I do think some people just have more sensitivity to them.

I have been prescribed them as strong as Demerol and it didn't touch my pain.

My go-to pain relief, that actually works for me, is Ibuprofen.

My roommate would roll over and play dead to get any kind of opioid, but it doesn't take much to knock her out.

[samnsara]

25. i cant do any of those opiates..even when i had 6 teeth extracted all i took

..was over the counter stuff

[TigressDem]

26. You don't have the genetics that make it fun. Be glad.

If you can tolerate Ibuprofen, I take 2 of them and 1 extra strength Tylenol when my back acts up.

The Ibuprofen helps reduce swelling, which contributes to both pain and stiffness. The Tylenol helps with pain.

Then I use ICE or heat as needed. If I'm having sharp pain but not spasm, I often ICE to numb the pain, but if it's just stiff I use heat.

[BlueTsunami2018]

29. I totally get how people get hooked.

I broke a few ribs last year and they gave me morphine and dilaudid and I could immediately see why people end up addicted to that stuff. It feels so damn good, like too good. I took the oxys for the first week and then put them away after pain became manageable. No one should feel that good all the time. It’s dangerous.

Opioids seem to affect people differently. My wife can’t take them because they make her all itchy and uncomfortable. Some people react as you do. They’re right in my sweet spot. No bad side effects and a hell of a good high.

[RobinA]

37. I Do Too

The little pill of "I don't care." Great for those of us with anxiety. I take it on very rare medical occasions, but I give it a wide berth otherwise. I like it too much, the tolerance is very quick, and yeah, the constipation. I totally get the addiction and I never want to go there.

[Ocelot II]

30. I was prescribed some for a root canal, never used it until I had a knee injury.

It gave me a pretty pleasant high for about 15 minutes until it put me soundly to sleep. It worked for the pain but I was very careful with it.

[Rhiannon12866]

31. I believe it was Hydrocodone that my doctor prescribed when I had TMJ and couldn't lie down or sleep

There was a warning about not driving while you were on it, but I couldn't get off the couch. I know that people can become addicted to it, but I couldn't function, only took it a few times. Fortunately, the TMJ cleared up.

Hope that you're feeling much better soon.

[Earth-shine]

32. Well, if you don't want those pills ...

In addition to getting addicted to pleasurable or pain-relieving sensations, I think we can become addicted to things based on fear of pain.

For example, I have a friend who takes Ambien every night. It does not guarantee that she sleeps well. Many nights, she doesn't.

Yet, she fears not taking it. She literally gets afraid if her supply runs low.

[Elessar Zappa]

33. I didn't get nauseous or dizzy.

I got a warm feeling that relaxed and energized me at the same time. That’s how people get addicted. Just be thankful that you have the reaction you do.

[onethatcares]

34. the new drug is Tramadol

I got both Oxys and Tramadol from my orthopedic doc after having my knee replaced, Used the opioid for three days after getting released to home and then went on to Naproxen every 8 hours for two weeks and slowly reduced that. Now after 18 weeks I take a Naproxen when needed, maybe 1 every three days.

I hated being constipated and could not get that teevee commercial about "passing a pineapple" out of my head.

The saddle block and morphine they gave me for the operation caused me a full day of hallucinations which I haven't had since my tripping days in the 70s.

Good luck and quick healing to you.

[BlackSkimmer]

46. Tramadol makes me as sick as the other stuff.

I have bad shoulder pain, but I just can’t take those meds.

[LeftInTX]

66. I'm really surprised that everyone is being sent home with oxys!

I had meniscus surgery in 2013, they gave me Vicodin or something similar.

Can you believe that I've had fentanyl? My back froze in 2012 and I had to go to the ER because I couldn't move. (I thought I had broken my hip) I told them just to give me sedatives and not opioids because they rev me up. Well, the fentanyl didn't rev me up and I was finally able to move.

[LuckyCharms]

80. I had IV Fentanyl for about 5 days in the hospital with

pancreatitis.

Apparently, I called my friends several times a day and talked shit to them.

I have no recollection of doing this.

[highplainsdem]

35. I know someone who fell shortly after knee replacement surgery because he was dizzy

from Oxycodone. Fortunately did not need more surgery, but had to go to the hospital for scans to make sure.

[Chainfire]

36. It wires me to the wall. One dose and no sleep for 24 hours.

I will be dreadfully tired, but the brain won't shut down. The stuff effects my son the same way, and doctors don't believe either of us.

[RobinA]

38. Well, It's Not Supposed

to work that way, but those doctors should know that many drugs can have a paradoxical effect. We see it in mental health. Give somebody a benzo to calm them down and the next thing you know they are swinging from the ceiling.

[LeftInTX]

81. Based on this thread, it's a fairly common reaction

Opium receptors are " pleasure, endorphin". It is a bit of a CNS stimulant for me. It's a proven respiratory depressant, in that it suppresses cough. And it seems to cause constipation in every one.

[ProfessorGAC]

42. No Nausea Here

But, it wasn't enjoyable in any way.
I had a tiny bone spur in my left shoulder caused by a collision in a charity softball game. (Naturally)
Had a cortisone shot and doc gave me Oxycontin & Butazolodin.
Told me to take one of each and get into a tub as hot as I could take getting the shoulder under water.
Did as suggested. Radio was on and suddenly a different song was playing. I then realized the water was barely above room temperature.
I asked my wife how long I was in there and she Saud about an hour & a half.
I said "Weren't you worried about me? How did you know I didn't drown?"
She replied "I was in there talking to you 3 times."
I have no recollection of those conversations.
I decided that painkiller was not for me. I forgot 90 minutes of my life, although fully conscious! Never took one again.
In three days, the pain was completely gone and the follow-up showed no spur. Didn't really need them.

[Kali]

44. I prefer hydrocodone when I can get it

first knee was mostly vicoden and recovery was mostly ok (had a problem that wasn't pain related), second knee was oxy and I was too drugged up for almost two weeks. also different anesthesia protocol that left me nauseous for several days and shit covid cpap regulations not letting me have a good rest to start out recovery well. all good now though just had one year final check of second knee. surgeon was happy and so am I.

[LeftInTX]

51. Yeah, I was thinking something similar

I know the tylenol is a concern, but these surgeries are short term usage

[panader0]

54. Good to hear. I remember when you were going through that.

[BlackSkimmer]

45. I can't take pain meds either.

Two shoulder surgeries and they gave me plenty of that nasty stuff.

I ended up relying on ibuprofen. I still have two bottles of the crap in my medicine cabinet. It literally makes me sick.

[Marthe48]

47. Itook it after gall bladder surgery

I had less pain alternating using ibuprofen and tylenol. I ended up not using the oxycodone.

I feel bad because it was prescribed to my husband while he battled cancer. He died before my gall bladder surgery and I couldn't help wondering if it eased his pain. Hope it did.

[LuckyCharms]

53. If you ever are in so much pain that you have no choice but to take one,

try cutting one tab into quarters, or even eighths. It might be enough to take the edge off the pain, while reducing unwanted side effects.

Oxy's are pretty much a no for me. I have to be pretty bad off to take one, or a portion of one tab.

Hydrocodone might be better for you in terms of side effects, but maybe not. I think everyone is different when it comes to opiates.

I agree with you that sometimes, you're best option is to stick with plain Tylenol and try to ride out the pain.

I'm sorry you are in pain, and I wish you the best for a smooth recovery!

[LeftInTX]

62. Is oxy controlled release???

I would be concerned about cutting a controlled release tablet.

I agree, when I had knee surgery, they gave me some type of codeine or synthetic codeine, such as hydrocodone (It worked, even though I already take a small amt of Tyl #3 daily) Whatever the surgeon gave me, it was not what I took daily, because I requested something different. But, it was a run of the mill pain med combined with tyl etc.

Just looked it up: Oxycodone tablets are control released. Do not cut control release tablets. It can cause OD

[LuckyCharms]

65. I don't know if they make a controlled released Oxy. The ones that I

received were not controlled release, they were just plain tablets. I was prescribed Oxy at a time when my back pain was crippling, rendering me unable to walk, even with a walker.

I had never taken Oxy before, only hydrocodone which are not as powerful as Oxy.

When I received the prescription, I was counselled by my pharmacist. I have a good relationship with her, and she spoke to me honestly.

Her words were something to the effect of:

"I know by your records that you have never taken these before. Listen to me closely. These tablets can mess you up. I want you to take as little as possible. Cut them in half, or into quarters. Start with that, and see how you react to the drug. You're either going to feel very good or very bad when you take this drug. It will take care of your pain, but try to adjust your dose to where it takes the edge off the pain only. Better to feel a little pain than to deal with the side effects of this drug".

[LuckyCharms]

68. Edit to the above:

In regard to your edit, look further down in your search results. It appears that they make both regular release and extended release Oxy. Extended release tabs are usually labeled XR or ER.

The type prescribed to me were not extended release.

[LeftInTX]

69. Everything says tablets are control released.

Oxycodone = oxycontin = control release. The control release thing was how it got so many people addicted. That's how I know about it.

Oxycodone comes as:

capsules – these contain 5mg, 10mg or 20mg of oxycodone
slow-release tablets – these contain 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg, 30mg, 40mg, 60mg, 80mg or 120mg of oxycodone
liquid – this contains 5mg of oxycodone in 5ml or 10mg of oxycodone in 1ml of liquid.
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/oxycodone/

https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Oxycodone-2020_0.pdf

[LuckyCharms]

70. There are two different versions of this drug.

1) Immediate release oxycodone.

2) OxyContin, which is extended release oxycodone.

I received the immediate release version, not the brand name OxyContin, which is extended release.

See the table in the below link, which shows that the immediate release version can be cut, as recommended by my pharmacist.

https://www.healthline.com/health/pain-relief/oxycodone-vs-oxycontin

[LeftInTX]

71. Oh..OK..thx...yes..just cut the things if they are not extended release!

I can't quite figure out why they are sending everyone home on this, but yes I would cut the darn things...

[LuckyCharms]

73. It's very confusing...

You had me wondering there for a moment if my pharmacist gave me bad advice.

I had to dig relatively deeply into the Google search results to verify that my particular brand of oxy could indeed be cut!

I appreciate you calling attention to the fact that extended release pills should not be cut!

[RobinA]

75. All Oxy

is controlled release. That was the reason it was supposed to be less addicting.

[LuckyCharms]

79. Please see link in post #70. n/t

[Skittles]

55. people react to medication in different ways

I was prescribed Vicodin and it made me very sick indeed....I thought the same thing, people get addicted to this? Obviously they have a completely different reaction to that medicine....

[LeftInTX]

63. You seem to have a strong reaction...

Most people can tolerate moderate amts of Vicodin with the main side effect of constipation and dizziness etc. I think nausea and vomiting at low doses is rare.

[csziggy]

57. Opioids don't relieve the pain for me - they just make me stupid

I found that cold packs helped MUCH better than any pain medication after my knee replacements. The best cold packs for me were the home made ones: 3 parts water to 1 part rubbing alcohol (3 cups /1 cup in a gallon Ziplock, double bagged). lay flat to freeze. The mixture will stay flexible so you can wrap it around the joint. And it stay cold longer than most commercial cold packs. Be sure to put a towel between your skin and the cold packs.

[Aristus]

64. If you try hard enough, you can get addicted to almost anything.

Every single day in clinic, I try to preserve and improve the health of patients who smoke. I still can’t understand why people still smoke.

First of all, everyone knows how unhealthy it is. It’s not like the 1950’s where a doctor comes out of the exam room and lights up. “After a long, hard day of clinic, I like to relax with Camel cigarettes. Twenty-one great tobaccos make twenty great smokes!”

I tried smoking a couple of times. It was so unpleasant, I quit right away, wondering how anyone could smoke long enough to become addicted to nicotine.

So I guess if someone puts their shoulder into it, they could become addicted to oxycodone.

[LeftInTX]

72. I was a cigarette flunky...I smoked off and on for about five years...

I always got bronchitis when I smoked.

I can compare smoking to video games. It has the same type of effect on the nervous system. A slight stimulant, but I could never figure out if it was from smoking itself, nerves or nicotine.

[RobinA]

76. Pick Your Poison

People smoke because it feels good. Your brain likes it so it tells you that you have to have it. I'm an ex-smoker. Got addicted real fast. Now, me, I don't get alcohol. I HATE alcohol. Hate the way it makes me feel, hate the taste. As evidenced by these threads, some people don't like opiates. I could be an opiate addict if I wasn't careful. Very nice. Alcohol? Not a chance. Speed? Horrible.

[Aristus]

77. It didn't feel good to me.

I just kept spitting and coughing as I ground out, like, my fifth cigarette, asking myself over and over: "People PAY to do this?"

[LeftInTX]

82. I can't tolerate ETOH

I hate it

[Luciferous]

78. I've never taken Oxy, but every time

I've been prescribed painkillers they have made me nauseous so I try not to use them.